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Chapter_125
Lucas lowered his head respectfully, his voice calm despite the growing urgency of the situation. “All right, Mr. Chambers. I have something else to report. Yvette’s makeup team ran into a problem on the way from Betrico to Seacrity, and they might not arrive on time. Should we call for the backup makeup artist?”
Zachary’s expression remained composed as he listened to the report. While this was an unforeseen issue, Lucas had already thought ahead, and Zachary trusted him to handle the situation. Lucas was always prepared for these kinds of things.
Zachary sighed, not overly concerned. “Just get it sorted out. Have the backup makeup artist come over immediately. Yvette is probably still asleep. When they arrive, have the staff wake her up. She needs rest; it’s going to be a long day.”
Nellie, sitting across from Zachary, couldn’t hide the bitterness building inside her. Her fingers gripped the milk glass tightly as she hid her contempt behind a pleasant smile. Makeup artist? she thought sarcastically. I wonder which makeup artist is brave enough to work on Yvette’s face.
Lucas didn’t waste any time. He swiftly took out his phone and called the backup makeup artist, his voice measured and calm as he exchanged a few words. After hanging up, his expression grew stiff. His lips were set in a tight line, and his eyes betrayed none of the internal conflict he felt.
Zachary, noticing the abrupt change in Lucas’s demeanor, raised an eyebrow. The tension was palpable. “What happened?” he asked, his voice low and serious.
Lucas, seeing no way to avoid it, quickly relayed the bad news. “Mr. Chambers, the backup makeup artist got into a car accident and has been taken to the hospital. He won’t be able to make it.”
Zachary’s face darkened. This was an unexpected blow. He had never anticipated such a thing happening at such a crucial moment. He frowned, contemplating the situation. The poor guy’s in the hospital… I can’t force him to come now, he thought, feeling a bit of sympathy for the makeup artist’s misfortune. But at the same time, the problem at hand was not easily solved.
Zachary’s mind raced, knowing well enough that good makeup artists had to be booked well in advance for events like this. Finding a replacement at the last minute would be nearly impossible, and he didn’t want to compromise Yvette’s appearance for the sake of convenience. The party would be filled with influential people, and any misstep could be the talk of the town. If Yvette’s makeup looks rushed or poor, it could turn into a scandal, he thought, his brow furrowing with worry.
Just then, Nellie, ever the opportunist, spoke up. “Darling, if Yvette doesn’t mind, she could use Winona’s makeup artist. I’ve hired two makeup artists for Winona, so they could each take care of one. It would work out perfectly.”
Zachary hesitated, unsure whether to trust Nellie’s suggestion. He had learned to be cautious when it came to her, but in this situation, he didn’t see any other option. After a brief pause, he nodded, his voice neutral. “All right, let’s go with that plan. One makeup artist for Yvette and one for Winona, so there won’t be a time conflict.”
Nellie’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She knew exactly why Zachary hesitated, but that only made the victory sweeter. He doesn’t trust me, she thought bitterly. But that’s fine. Let him think I wouldn’t dare to hurt Yvette. I already have a plan in motion. Even if things go awry, I’ll make sure no suspicion falls on me.
Lunchtime came, and Winona and Zeke descended to the dining room together. When they spotted Zachary sitting on the sofa, there was no sign of awkwardness between them. They approached him with a warm greeting, “Good afternoon, Dad,” as though nothing had happened the day before with Zachary’s decision to side with Yvette.
Zachary, pleased by their well-behaved demeanor, smiled and replied warmly, “Winona! Zeke! Lora has kept your share. Come and have a bite.”
Winona and Zeke exchanged glances, both feeling a hint of disappointment. Leftover food? They thought in unison. So it’s not freshly made? Despite their misgivings, they sat down, knowing full well that Zachary didn’t like to waste food.
Still, the unease from the previous day hung in the air. The tension between them and Zachary was palpable. Though they didn’t speak about it directly, their frustration with Zachary was growing. They knew how important Yvette had become to him, and they could feel the shift in his favor.
As they ate, their minds wandered to yesterday’s events. Though they hadn’t said it out loud, both Winona and Zeke felt more and more displeased with their father. Their efforts to keep the peace were growing harder with each passing moment.
After a long silence, Winona broke it. “Dad, where’s Mom? I haven’t seen her today.”
Zachary’s mood shifted immediately. His jaw clenched, and his expression hardened. The warmth he had shown just moments before evaporated.
Winona, sensing his sudden coldness, grew anxious. Did I say something wrong? she thought, her pulse quickening.
Zachary grumbled, his tone sharp. “She’s at the west mansion entertaining Mr. Griffin. He doesn’t want to come here and insists on showing up only when the event begins.”
Winona winced, feeling uncomfortable as if she were walking on eggshells. The subtle mention of Mr. Griffin’s temper was a reminder of the power dynamics at play, and she couldn’t help but feel slighted by Zachary’s tone.
Meanwhile, Zeke, who had been silently observing, spoke up. “Dad, it’s normal for someone in Mr. Griffin’s position to have a temper. Besides, Yvette upset him yesterday, and it was Winona who calmed him down. Without her, today’s party might have been a disaster.”
Zeke’s words hung in the air. He spoke as though he were defending Richard, but it was clear to everyone that his underlying message was aimed at Zachary. He was reminding him of the unfairness in his treatment of Winona and himself.
Zachary fell silent, his expression darkening. He didn’t respond, but the shift in the room was palpable. The tension had thickened.
Winona glanced at Zeke, her surprise evident. Is Zeke on my side now? she wondered. Does he finally understand where the true problem lies?
As Zachary excused himself to take a nap, Winona and Zeke exchanged another look. Without a word, Winona got up and headed toward the west mansion. Zeke, however, was in no rush. He called for the housekeeper to bring him grilled fish and steak. Unlike Winona, he didn’t have to maintain any appearance for the evening’s banquet. He needed his food.
At the west mansion, Richard was still stewing in anger over the events of the previous evening. He hadn’t been able to sleep, his frustration with the dinner incident gnawing at him. He was determined to let off some steam at the party, and Nellie knew this. She had patiently tried to calm him, but it was clear he wasn’t going to let the matter rest so easily.
Finally, with no other choice, Nellie laid out her plan for the day, a sly smile tugging at her lips as she spoke. The pieces were all falling into place.
